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Updated 4.06pm
THE FIRST SAME-SEX marriages in Ireland could be set to take place as early as next month.
This follows the approval of the publication of the Marriage Equality Bill 2015 by the government today.
The Bill is set to be introduced to the Dáil next week but will be published tomorrow.
Speaking today the minister said, “I am delighted to be in a position to publish the Marriage Bill 2015 which will, when enacted, enable same-sex couples to marry in Ireland.
This Bill implements the strong desire of the Irish people that couples should be able to marry without distinction as to their sex. It will make Marriage Equality a reality in Ireland.
What else is included under the Bill?
Same-sex marriages that have taken place in other countries will be recognised under the new Bill.
Provisions have been made so that various religious organisations will not be compelled to recognise a particular form of marriage ceremony.
Same-sex couples that have already registered a notification to enter into a civil partnership will be able to convert this to a notification of their invention to marry.
Minister Fitzgerald has also said that she is working with the Department of Social Protection to bring down the cost for civil partners wishing to marry from €200 to €50.
Reaction
There has been a positive reaction to the approval of the new legislation this afternoon.
In a statement John Lyons, TD and gay rights activist, said, “As a society, we have travelled a long way on the road to equality.
From the dark days of when being gay was a criminal offence, right through to May 22nd of this year, when the people of Ireland spoke powerfully and profoundly and said Yes – Yes to equality and Yes to love.
Jerry Buttimer, Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central and chair of Fine Gael LGBT, said, “I’m delighted that this important legislation has taken another key step towards enactment and it’s my hope that we will see Ireland’s first same-sex marriages take place before Christmas.”
Isn’t it already law?
This will give effect to May’s referendum on same-sex marriage when Ireland voted with 62% in favour.
Last month saw the update enshrined in the Constitution after Michael D. Higgins signed the Thirty-Fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015.
This next step will see the law brought into reality.
The vote in May saw 1,201,607 people vote in favour of the amendment with 734,300 opposed.
This made Ireland the first country in the world to support same-sex marriage by popular vote.
The referendum had been expected to be enacted into law sooner, but faced legal challenges to its legitimacy.
- First published 07.43
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For the spongers….. As if they don’t get enough!!! Maybe try get a job
@Kev Barnes: your a fool. Have you ever spoken to a genuine homeless person. You don’t no peoples life circumstances so don’t judge. Have a bit of compassion, it’s Christmas. This is not about people getting so called free houses, it’s about putting a smile on someone’s face. Crawl back into your hole
@Kev Barnes: most probably do have jobs. They are probably being paid minimum wage by billion euro companies. Working full time at minimum wage gives you around €380 a week. Average place in Dublin is around €1600. Even if both are working they would struggle to cover the rent. So the government step in and supplement this by way of our taxes. But of all the people you are pissed off with it’s the person not earning enough to cover their rent. They are at the mercy of their landlord with severe HAP discrimination. Most of them can’t afford to buy presents in fact most probably struggle to feed their families but I’m glad that the Christmas sprit is alive and well in you.
@Sos: it’s sad how someone can have such harsh views on children living in poverty. It’s not like the child asked to be born without the luxuries these people have.
@Ali Ní Dhomhnaill: I have actually I was homeless myself at one point but sorted my life out thankfully
@Ali Ní Dhomhnaill: Whether or not you disagree with his comments, calling somebody a ‘fool’ whilst incorrectly spelling the word ‘You’re’ shows that perhaps he’s not the only ‘fool’.
@Lovely weather: look up the dictionary, I think you will find “fool” is the correct spelling
@Lovely weather: “fool”noun.
a silly or stupid person; a person who lacks judgment or sense.
@Ali Ní Dhomhnaill: nah I expect their parents to get their acts together like most people in society.. My heart goes out to the children that was never my point… Oh and thank you for following my posts
@Ali Ní Dhomhnaill: he said “whilst incorrectly spelling the word “you’re”" not fool…
@Sharon Fernandes: even so the point about the definition whether made intentionally or not would still stand.that is a fool being a person without judgement or sense not a person who makes minor grammatical errors
If they’re anything like Erica Fleming and Co, they’ll laugh at shoebox 2nd hand presents.
If they’re not paying rent, then they are wealthier than the people the chuggers target.
You’re being fooled.
Don’t waste your money on these “charities”, donate to Bóthar or something.
@T Beckett is back: I think ICHH is actually one of the few good charities that has scaled without spending a ton of exec salaries etc. I think all their people are volunteers without pay. I like that they publish full audited accounts rather than ‘annual reports’ with cherry-picked information like most charities too.
One of the only ones I’ve donated to with how bad most Irish charities are with frivilous spending and mismanagement.
@T Beckett is back: I grew up in a shit hole a real bad bad shit hole.My first memory of fear was maybe 10 cops with sub machine guns on the shared balcony trying to get the lads who just robbed a jewellers.I always remembers this. Personally I wouldn’t ever give to Charities as the people who need it don’t get it the people who don’t need it demand it. Your all being taken for a ride. Charity begins at home.
I don’t understood a family being homeless in Dublin.
I commute from the midlands to Dublin for work (can’t afford to live in Dublin) and we(we have a young child) live on one civil service income.
Great idea. Bridges of hope are another group helping the homeless. Every Saturday night in the City Centre giving clothes and food. A Christmas dinner for homeless people and families in emergency accommodation will be held by them on Christmas
Excellent homeless charity!Some schools give out backpacks with essential items also& it’s great to see compassionate people including children.
The way some commentators here,often under pseudonyms, talk about fellow human beings in desperate stressful circumstances is truly disgusting and shameful!
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